Texans cut Holliday, sign linebacker Ruud

Cushing tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in Monday night's 23-17 win over the New York Jets. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound
Ruud was a second-round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2005. He was cut by New Orleans on Monday.

The Texans (5-0) play Green Bay (2-3) on Sunday night.

The 5-foot-5 Holliday won a roster spot
after returning three kicks (two punts and a kickoff) for touchdowns in
the preseason.
That didn't translate to the regular season: Houston ranks last in
kickoff return average (17.6 yards) and 16th in punt return
average (9.2 yards.

Coach Gary Kubiak didn't blame Holliday for the return issues. The Texans were also penalized on three kick returns on Monday
night.

"By no means is it a statement or anything
about what we thought of Trindon," Kubiak said. "We have not been
playing up to
par on special teams, giving returners the opportunity. That had
nothing to do with it. You never know, our paths may cross
again. But we wish him the best. He did a good job, he earned his
way onto this team, but we had to make a tough decision."

Kubiak said fourth-round draft pick Keshawn Martin will take over punt and kickoff return duties, an area where he excelled
at Michigan State. The 5-11, 190-pound Martin ranks second in school history in punt return yards (659), eighth in kickoff
return yards (1,100) and 10th in all-purpose yards (4,013).

Martin has been working "heavily" on
returning kicks for the past month, Kubiak said, and now he can make
that his sole focus,
with receiver Lestar Jean healthy again. Jean has missed the last
two games following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee
last month.

"We have a lot of confidence in him," Kubiak said of Martin. "In college, he was excellent at doing it. But we were working
with four receivers for a period of time, with Lestar being out. So I was concerned, putting too much on his plate.

"If I'd thrown that (handling returns) on
him, I just felt like I was doing too much to him too early," Kubiak
said. "He's
made a lot of progress, but the fact that Lestar's back and will
be back, now we have five healthy receivers. So I feel like
we can give Keshawn a little bit more."

Kubiak will also consider backup running back Justin Forsett and starting safety Danieal Manning, who also have experience
returning kicks.

The more immediate concern is filling Cushing's role. The 2009 first-round draft pick was not only the team's leading tackler
this season (43), he was also one of the emotional leaders and most respected players in the locker room.

Tim Dobbins replaced Cushing on Monday
night, and Kubiak reiterated on Wednesday that Dobbins is the best
option to step into
Cushing's spot. Dobbins played his first four NFL seasons with San
Diego, including one season under Wade Phillips, now the
Texans' defensive coordinator.

"It's a challenge for our team, that's what
this is," Kubiak said. "We know Dobbins is going to go in there and play
well,
and every player in our locker room is going to take on a little
bit more responsibility. So we're going to spread that responsibility
around, everybody's going to take a little bit bigger piece of it,
and we've got to respond."

Ruud started 68 games for Tampa Bay between 2005-10. He started nine games for Tennessee last season, making 57 tackles and
deflecting three passes. He played in three games for the Saints before he was released on Monday.

Kubiak expects Ruud to learn Phillips' defense quickly.

"He's a veteran who's been in some systems
somewhat similar to what we do," Kubiak said. "It gives us a little bit
of flexibility
going into game day."

Notes: Kubiak said RB Ben Tate (toe) practiced on Wednesday and is expected to play on Sunday. Tate sat out Monday night's
game. ... S Quintin Demps (left forearm fracture) sat out Wednesday's workout. ... The Texans also signed G Cody White off
the practice squad. The 603, 301-pound White is an undrafted rookie out of Illinois State.